Around this time last year, Hannah Gardener and her colleagues from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center presented at the American Stroke Association International Stroke conference and suggested a link between diet soft drink consumption and increased risk of cardiovascular issues. Medical experts promptly ripped apart Gardener’s questionnaire-based report.

At the time, Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News Medical Correspondent, called the study “one of the worst studies I’ve seen capturing headlines in a long time. It’s bad because of the science.”

Despite the onslaught of criticisms within the scientific community, the study has now been published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine, just a week before the 2012 International Stroke conference.

Important note for our readers:  There is still no scientific evidence that shows that diet soda consumption causes increased risk of vascular events or stroke.

This observational study only “suggests a potential association” between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular issues, yet its authors (or some of the media coverage) would lead you to believe otherwise. ..

According to American Stroke Association (ASA) spokesperson Dr. Larry Goldstein, the study is “an observational study and not a prospective randomized trial…This is an association and not yet a proven casual relationship.”

As Dr. Richard Besser said when this was first presented: “This study has major flaws and should not change anyone’s diet soda consumption.”

Diet soft drinks are safe and still a useful tool for weight management and weight loss.  With our member companies producing a wide variety of beverages in a range of calorie options, consumers can choose the beverage that’s right for them.